A person must be faithful and hide things. He may not reveal his secrets to anyone, for “Wisdom is the brother of the modest ones!”, and the Gemarah quotes from Ben Sira that “Many will be seekers of your peace, reveal your secret (only) to one in a thousand!”, and even to that one in a thousand he should not reveal unless it is absolutely necessary (e.g. to receive advice etc.), as they said, “That which you hide from your enemies do not reveal to your friend!”, unless you have checked him many times and found him to be a faithful friend, in case he will change his mind and become an enemy and reveal your secret. Go out and learn how far one must go in keeping one’s secrets from our forefather Ya’akov may he rest in peace, as it says “And Ya’akov sent a message and called Rachel and Le’ah to the field to his sheep!”, and Chazal said that we extrapolate from here that one should not discuss secrets in the home. Instead one should discuss these things in an open place like a field, as “Walls have ears!”. It follows that one must be very careful when discussing secrets with one’s household members as sometimes one can be heard through the wall, and sometimes the children in the house are “Talebearers who walk and reveal secrets!”, and “One who guards his mouth and tongue will guard his soul from troubles!”
